Changed my mind about cheap load cells after one broke on a job

Used to buy those $30 load cells from Amazon. Figured they were fine for smaller lifts. Then one snapped lifting a 4 ton HVAC unit in Denver. Almost dropped it on a brand new roof. Spent $180 on a proper Crosby load cell after that. Has anyone else had cheap gear fail on them?

3 comments

3 Comments

samrodriguez22d ago

Is your setup doing anything weird after the drop or was it just the load cell that gave out? I switched to name brand hardware after a cheap shackle bent on me lifting a generator, never skimp on anything above head now. That extra money hurts at first but it beats the stress of wondering if your gear will hold.

pat_murray538d ago

Oh man, that's rough! @samrodriguez is right about above head gear. I had a cheap shackle crack lifting a 3 ton mini split once. Just the load cell went on yours? Lucky it didn't take out the unit too. That Denver roof must've been a heart stopper. Hard lesson, but better than a full drop.

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mark_green8d agoTop Commenter

Ngl @samrodriguez I almost dropped a 2 ton on my own foot once, so you're way ahead of me.